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(10/25/18 6:26pm)
By Malcolm Luck
Staff Writer
Fresh off a sixth-place finish at the NJIT Highlander Challenge on Oct. 6, the women’s cross country team returned to the track to compete at the Connecticut College Invitational on Oct. 13. The women proved their consistency, capturing another sixth place finish in a field of 25 total teams.
Senior Natalie Cooper came in clutch for the Lions, claiming second place out of 307 total runners with her time of 21:10.2, just a fraction of a second slower than sophomore Kaitlin Mooney from Coast Guard. Junior Gabby DeVito claimed second, finishing in 22:46.1, followed by senior Madeleine Tattory in 49th, finishing the 6k event in 23:06.6.
Senior Erin Holzbaur was up next for the College, claiming 72nd in 23:27.6, followed by freshmen Kelsey Kobus in 94th, with her time of 23:48.3 and Emily Prendergast in 98th in 23:52.8.
Junior Hannah Fay led the next surge of Lions with her time of 24:18.6, good for 121st. Junior Ryann Reagan was not far behind in 150th, crossing the finish line in 24:41.1. Sophomore Zoe Paxos’s time of 24:44.4 was good for 158th, followed by sophomore Casey Hopkins at her time of 24:59.6.
Rounding out the day for the Lions were sophomore Jill Neggia, senior Olivia Shenkman and freshman Grace Cocanower coming in 191st, 195th and 208th places.
The men’s team saw a significant drop off in performances from the NJIT Highlander Challenge. After claiming fourth place just one week prior, the squad members found themselves in 16th place at the Connecticut College Invitational out of 27.
First to cross for the College was freshman William Mayhew, completing the race in 26:05.02. Sophomore teammate Pelle Nogueira followed in 68th with his time of 26:09.2. Senior Quinn Wasko claimed the third-best time for the Lions, finishing the 8k in 25:15.4, which was good for 78th.
In a distant 110th was senior finishing in 26:33.7, followed by sophomore Matt Kole in 26:40.2, claiming 117th. Sophomore Alex Carideo and junior Chris Coombs trailed in 141st and 154th with their respective times of 26:51.6 and 27:01.4 while sophomore Noah Preihs and freshman Pat Mulligan earned times of 27:21.0 and 27:34.7, good for 196th and 223rd.
After a bye, the College will participate in the New Jersey Athletic Conference Championship held at Rowan University on Saturday, Oct. 27 in Glassboro, New Jersey.
(10/09/18 3:44am)
By Malcolm Luck
Staff Writer
Following a pair of solid performances on Sept. 29 at the Paul Short Invitational, the men and women’s cross country squads returned to the track in Newark, New Jersey to run in the NJIT Highlander Invitational.
Both teams put together fantastic performances, resulting in a fourth place finish for the men and a sixth place finish for the women.
The men participated in the 8k event with their top finisher, freshman Gabriel Calandri, coming in 27th place. His time of 27:31.00 was the top mark for the Lions and led the charge that gave his team its second best finish of the season.
A wave of freshmen competitors for the Lions followed. Claiming 31st place was freshman Fabian Mestanza, clocking in at 27:42.00. Next in line was freshman John Raisley with his time of 28:14.00, good for 46th. Freshman Michael Iannotta finished in 49th, crossing the finish line in 28:24.00.
Freshman Matthew Smith finished next for the Lions with his time of 28:37.00 in 57th place, followed by junior Luke Pacini in 62nd, clocking in at 28:58.00. Rounding out the event for the Lions were sophomore Alex Cafiero and freshman Jack Ennis, respectively completing the race in 64th and 69th places with their times of 29:01.00 and 29:19.00.
In a slate of 239 total competitors, the men’s team did not have a runner who placed lower than 69th place. This remarkable display of consistency allowed the College to accumulate an average time of 28:05.60, which ultimately earned fourth place among 31 total teams.
The women’s team displayed similar signs of consistency, beginning with senior Kelly Morrison. She raced to the top mark for the Lions, earning 26th place with her time of 20:09.00. Sophomores Jill Neggia and MaryKate Bailey completed the race just six seconds later, respectively finishing in 29th and 30th in 20 minutes and 15 seconds.
Freshman Grace Cocanower was the next top finisher for the Lions with her time of 20:52.00, good for 48th. Placing 52nd was sophomore Amy Cmielewski in 20:54.00 followed by junior Kiera Cullen in 54th, finishing just two seconds later in 20:56.00. Sophomore Katelyn Morgan followed close behind in 21:10.00, good for 60th. Sophomore Emily Forester and freshman Brittany Schofield came in 64th and 65th respectively with identical times of 21:14.00.
Rounding out the day for the women’s team were freshmen Tara Donoghue and Lauren Murphy and senior Gianna Melillo. Donoghue earned 69th with her time of 21:23.00, followed by Murphy in 82nd in 21:47.00 and Melillo in 118th, clocking in at 23:08.00.
The team combined for a total time of 1:42:25.00, averaging 20:29.00 amongst all of the College’s participants. The team finished in sixth place in a slate of 29 total teams.
Both teams will travel to New London, Connecticut on Saturday, Oct. 13 to participate in the Connecticut College Invitational, the last scheduled meet for the Lions until the New Jersey Athletic Conference Championships on Oct. 27.
(10/02/18 3:06am)
By Malcolm Luck
Staff Writer
Although senior runner Natalie Cooper was competing against 363 other females at the Paul Short Invitational, she was only interested in the top-three.
On Saturday, Sept. 29, the cross country teams traveled to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania to participate in the Paul Short Invitational hosted by Lehigh University. The women’s team took 14th place while the men’s team finished in 21st place.
Eager to finish her final season on a strong note, Cooper didn’t miss a beat as she raced to second place in the 6k event. Cooper finished in 21:15, completing the race in a wide margin of 10 seconds before the next competitor. She made a record for the fastest time at the Paul Short Invitational in the College’s history.
On Monday, Oct. 1, Cooper was also named runner of the week by the New Jersey Athletic Conference.
The next top finisher for the Lions was senior Erin Holzbaur, taking 103rd place with her time of 23:34. Finishing one second after was sophomore teammate Gabby DeVito, earning her 107th and a place in the top-third portion of competition.
Freshman Kelsey Kobus and senior Madeleine Tattory both finished with times of 23:40, followed by junior Hannah Fay and senior Emma Bean who rounded out the day for the Lions with their respective times of 24:23 and 24:33.
Overall, the Lions combined for a total time of 1:55:44 and a total places sum of 447, ultimately earning them 14th place out of 43 teams.
The men’s team lacked dazzling finishes in their 8k race, but consistency among the seven Lions runners earned them a middle-of-the-pack finish in a similar slate of 44 total teams.
First to cross the finish line for the Lions was freshman Nick Falk, earning 84th place in 26:30. Sophomore Matthew Kole and freshman William Mayhew followed close behind in 119th and 125th, respectively, clocking in 26:49 and 26:51.
Rounding out the final three slots were sophomore Robert Abrams, senior Quinn Wasko and junior Mike Zurzolo. Abrams finished in 27:18, which was good for 183rd. Wasko followed in 212th in 27:33 and Zurzolo crossed the line to end the day for the Lions in 27:57, which was good for 250th place.
The Lions combined for a total time of 2:14.25 and accumulated a count of 651 for total places, good for 21st place.
Next week, both teams will travel north to Newark, New Jersey to compete in the NJIT Highlander Challenge on Saturday, Oct. 6. The women are scheduled to run at 11:00 a.m. while the men will begin at 11:50 a.m.
(09/25/18 3:59am)
By Malcolm Luck
Staff Writer
Following a pair of middle-of-the-pack finishes from the men’s and women’s cross country teams last week at the Bill Fritz Invitational, both teams thrived at the Osprey Open on Saturday, Sept. 22 at Stockton University.
The men’s squad took second place out of 14 teams while the women placed third out of 12.
Stockton University dominated the 8k event for the men’s team, but the College was not far behind. Posting the best mark for the Lions was freshman Andrew Chamberlain, who crossed the finish line before his peers with a time of 27:38.93, earning him ninth place in a packed slate of 112 competitors. Junior Chris Coombs trailed by less than three seconds, trotting in tenth place at 27:41.79. Sophomore Noah Preihs rounded out the top-three for the Lions, coming in 12th at 27:49.19.
Other notable finishes for the men’s team come from a trio of freshmen, led by Jack Ennis in 15th place who completed the race in 28:03.29. Gabriel Calandri took 19th place finishing in 28:48.71 and John Raisley placed 22nd in 28:56.36.
Despite a plethora of impressive finishes, Stockton University peppered opponents, accounting for four of the top-10 finishes. The school collectively earned an average time of 27:25.19, which is an impressive 35-second advantage over the Lions, who followed with an average time of 28:00.39.
The women’s team followed up with an impactful performance as well.
The women’s 6k results were led by junior Ryann Reagan and senior Kelly Morrison, respectively capturing 16th and 17th places in a field of 117 competitors with their times of 26:10.01 and 26:10.62.
The College’s runners also claimed consecutive places moments after, beginning with freshman Jazzlyn Diaz in 20th place finishing in 26:19.67 and sophomore Casey Hopkins, clocking in at 26:22.60, earning her 21st.
Overall, the women’s team earned an average time of 26:24.61, ultimately falling once again to Stockton in second place and Jefferson University in first.
Both teams will travel to Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania on Saturday, Sept. 29 to partake in the Paul Short Invitational. The men are scheduled to run at 12:15 p.m. while the women are set to begin at 1:00 p.m.
(09/18/18 4:48am)
By Malcolm Luck
Staff Writer
After a week off following the Blue and Gold Alumni Invitational on Sept. 1, the Lions were back in action, participating in the Bill Fritz Invitational at Rowan University on Saturday, Sept. 15.
The men’s team took eighth place out of 23 teams, while the women’s squad placed seventh out of 17.
For the men, top performances were led by freshman William Mayhew, who placed 17th in a packed slate of 245 competitors for the 8k event. Mayhew’s time of 27:06.43 was also good enough to earn him the top mark for all freshman competitors. Following behind was sophomore Matt Kole, completing the race in 28:01.39, good for 40th place.
Earning 46th place was sophomore Alex Carideo with his time of 28:05.36. Junior Chris Coombs clocked in at 28:52.88 earning 74th, followed by freshman Jack Ennis and sophomore Noah Preihs respectively finishing in 29:00.72 and 29:26.13.
Collectively, the men’s team had an average time of 28:13.26.
The women offered a change of pace, participating in the 6k event in a field of 166 runners. Leading the College’s charge were freshmen Hanna Batchelder and Emily Prendergast –– both provided a successive strike for the Lions in 40th and 41st places. Batchelder completed the race in 25:10.54, just seconds before Prendergast, who crossed the finish line in 25:14.24.
Sophomore MaryKate Bailey joined her teammates shortly, clocking in at 25:30.25, good for 47th place. Sophomore Zoe Paxos was not far behind in 54th place, finishing in 25:38.25.
A pride of Lions soon followed, beginning with sophomore Katelyn Morgan in 75th, freshman Brittany Schofield in 79th and sophomore Jill Neggia in 80th.
Junior Ryann Regan, sophomore Amy Cmielewski and freshman Tara Donoghue earned 82nd, 87th and 89th places, respectively. Sophomore Casey Hopkins came in 94th to round out the day for the Lions. Overall, the women earned an average time of 25:39.62.
Following an irregular schedule to open the season, the Lions will return to racing every Saturday until mid-October, beginning with the Osprey Open at Stockton University on Saturday, Sept. 22. The meet is scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m.
(09/04/18 1:22am)
By Malcolm Luck
Staff Writer
The Lions opened up a long and taxing season at Green Lane Fields in Ewing, New Jersey by participating in the Blue and Gold Alumni Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 1.
In this event, all of the participants were members of the College’s cross country teams or alumni. The men’s team had four alumni participants, while the women’s team had none.
On the men’s side, the top of the leaderboard for the 4K run was closely contested by freshman Lions. Crossing the finish line in first place was freshman Billy Mayhew, completing the race in 13:57.60.
Following close behind were freshmen Pat Mulligan and Stuart Gruters, coming in third and fourth places with respective times of 13:59.50 and 13:59.70.
Sophomore Nick Falk’s mark of 13:59.20 was good enough for second, while junior Mike Zurzolo rounded out the top five by completing the race in 14 minutes flat.
Participating in their first collegiate cross country events, a number of freshmen set their first marks for the College and look to improve through the season.
Leading the second wave of freshman participants was Jack Ennis, who completed the 4K in 14:16.00 which was good for 12th place. Freshmen Andrew Chamberlain, Fabian Mestanza and John Raisley earned 16th, 18th and 20th places with their respective times of 14:30.90, 14:38.00 and 14:57.30. Braeden Aldrich, Dan Sullivan and Matt Smith rounded out the freshman class in 21st, 22nd and 24th place.
For the women, freshman Nicole Fenske led the pack in the 3K event, surpassing her peers and earning first place with her impressive time of 11:57.50. Clocking in shortly after were more familiar faces, beginning with junior Hannah Fay in second place, completing the race in 11:58.70. Senior Natalie Cooper, junior Gabby DeVito and senior Madeleine Tattory finished with respective times of 12:03.40, 12:03.60 and 12:04.00 to earn third, fourth and fifth places.
Freshmen on the women’s team also recorded impressive times during their first invitational. Freshman Emily Prendergast secured a time of 12:17.60 which was good for seventh.
Prendergast was followed by Hanna Batchelder and Lauren Murphy in eighth and ninth places with respective times of 12:18.60 and 12:21.20. Jazzlyn Diaz completed her first race with a mark of 12:45.60, which was good for 13th. Brittany Schofield and Kelly Tucker rounded out the group, respectively completing the event in 13:16.20 and 13:21.60.
Outcomes from this event revealed the talent from the freshman class that will only improve during the season.
After a week off from competition, the teams will return to participate in the Brill Fritz Invitational hosted by Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey. This event on Saturday, Sept. 15 will mark the first New Jersey Athletic Conference event for the cross country teams of the 2018 season.
(08/29/18 3:11am)
By Malcolm Luck
Staff Writer
Represented by nine participants in last year’s NCAA Division III Championship, the men’s and women’s cross country team looks to continue winning in the upcoming season.
The women’s team will be led by senior runner Natalie Cooper, who padded her resumé with prestigious awards at the end of last season. Cooper’s consistency earned her NCAA Division III All-American Honors, allowing her to become the team’s first recipient since 2008. Cooper was also named the New Jersey Athletic Conference Runner of the year, as well as first team-All NJAC honors.
The fate of the team does not lie solely on Cooper — other teammates proved to be strong NJAC competitors last season. Coming off of her freshman campaign, sophomore Gabby DeVito looks to sustain success after being named the NJAC Rookie of the Year. DeVito’s selection marks the College’s third Rookie of the Year recipient in the past four seasons.
Aside from athletic awards, five players from the women’s team have also earned All-Academic honors awards. The team posted a cumulative grade point average of 3.57, placing fifth out of 41 teams in the NCAA Atlantic Region Championships.
On the men’s team, senior Quinn Wasko looks to build on his solid junior campaign. Wasko hopes to pick up where he left off last season, setting a personal record in the eight kilometer event at the Regional Championships on Nov. 11. Wasko also looks to earn First Team All-NJAC honors for the second year in a row.
The sky’s the limit for the runners in blue and gold, who hope to succeed under the guidance of NJAC Women’s Cross Country Coach of the Year, Justin Lindsey.
The Lions hope that experience proves to be key as they open the season at the Blue/Gold Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 1 in Ewing, New Jersey.
(05/02/18 2:01am)
By Malcolm Luck
Sports Editor
Losing just doesn’t sit well with the Lions. After falling to Kean University 4-3 on April 21, the College rattled off four consecutive wins against conference opponents to end the regular season with authority.
The Lions claimed the first pair of victories in a dominating doubleheader display against New Jersey City University on April 24 at Dr. June Walker Field. Freshman starting pitcher Alanna Namit began the game in her usual commanding fashion, striking out seven of the first nine batters she faced.
After being held scoreless for the first two innings, the Lions struck first in the bottom of the third. With two outs and no runners on base, sophomore infielder Megan Mayernik struck a single to left field that ignited a two-out rally. Senior outfielder Madison Levine laced an RBI double to left center one batter later. Junior outfielder Gaby Bennett followed with a run-scoring error and another RBI single to cap off a three-run inning. Namit responded by striking out the side in the top of the fourth inning.
Extra-base hits put the game out of reach in the bottom half of the inning. Sophomore infielder/outfielder Annalise Suitovsky doubled to left field to score the fourth run for the Lions while a pair of triples from Mayernik and freshman infielder Lauren Conroy ended up being the dagger that extended the lead to 7-0. The College scored their eighth run in the bottom of the fifth, enforcing the mercy rule and ending the game two innings early, 8-0.
The Lions showed no mercy for NJCU in the back end of the doubleheader, resulting in another 8-0 victory. The College hung four runs on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth with a plethora of sharp base hits. Levine sent an RBI triple to right field, bringing home Suitovsky for the first run of the game. After an RBI single by Conroy, Bennett tripled to right center and eventually scored after sophomore outfielder Helena Coppola smacked an RBI double to right.
Coppola added a run-scoring triple to right field in her next plate appearance and scored on an RBI infield single. For the second consecutive game, the College scored its eighth run in the fifth inning to end the game early.
At home against Montclair State University, the Lions struck early and often, posting five runs in the first three innings of the game. Conroy got the College started with an RBI single up the middle in the first. Suitovsky added a two-run double an inning later, followed by a two-run single by junior catcher Jess McGuire in the third.
The offense was more than enough for Namit who pitched all six innings for the Lions while collecting seven strikeouts, only allowing three hits. With this performance, Namit finishes the regular season with no losses, posting a 14-0 record. The Lions added three more in the bottom of the sixth to capture their third consecutive 8-0 victory.
The last game of the regular season was no different from the others. Explosive offense and stingy pitching proved to carry the Lions to another victory, this time resulting in a 6-1 victory. Levine and Conroy collected RBIs in the first inning.
The College didn’t score again until the bottom of the fourth following McGuire’s sacrifice fly and Mayernik’s RBI single. The Lions added insurance runs in the fifth and sixth innings. Despite allowing a run in the top of the seventh, senior pitcher Sam Platt held on for her ninth win of the season.
Next up for the Lions are the New Jersey Athletic Conference playoffs, where the top-seeded Lions look to bring home a conference title.
(04/24/18 6:56am)
By Malcolm Luck
Sports Editor
With the regular season finale around the corner, freshman pitcher/infielder Alanna Namit is preparing to dominate in the playoffs.
Namit got the College’s five-win week started in the first game of its doubleheader against Stockton University on April 17 at Dr. June Walker Field. She hurled her first no-hitter of the week, holding her opponent hitless in five innings while the Lions’ offense generated eight runs, cruising past Stockton, 8-0.
In the back end of the doubleheader, the Lions found themselves in an early 1-0 hole after the first inning. In the third, the College regained the lead after an RBI double off the bat of senior outfielder Madison Levine, followed by an RBI single by freshman infielder Lauren Conroy in the next plate appearance.
Junior catcher Jess McGuire blasted a home run to left field in the bottom of the third to add an insurance run. Senior pitcher Sam Platt froze Stockton and tossed a complete game, earning her sixth win of the season.
Despite playing four games in 26 hours, the Lions didn’t stop grinding out wins in their home doubleheader against William Paterson University on April 18. Junior outfielder Gaby Bennett got things started for the Lions in the first game, sneaking a two-run single through the right side in the bottom of the first inning to give the College a 2-0 lead.
Bennett struck again with a double in the bottom of the third, adding another RBI. McGuire brought Bennett home on an RBI single just one batter later. Five runs proved to be plenty as Namit only allowed one run in seven innings, propelling the Lions to a 5-1 win.
In the second game, Platt allowed two runs in the top of first inning, putting the Lions in an early 0-2 deficit. William Paterson didn’t hold the lead for long as the College bounced back in the bottom of the first, scoring a run on a passed ball before Conroy singled to left field to tie the game at two.
In the bottom of the third, Conroy added another run with an RBI single. McGuire struck a two-run double to extend the lead to 5-2. The Lions never looked back as they won with a final score of 9-3.
Kean University proved to be no match for Namit as she took the mound for the first game of the College’s doubleheader on Saturday, April 21 in Union, New Jersey. For the second time in the five games, she threw a no-hitter, striking out 13 batters. Her commanding performance marks her fourth no-hitter of the season.
Head coach Sally Miller praised Namit’s pitch velocity and movement.
“Alanna has a lot of movement on her pitches, combined with the fact that she throws hard is the advantage that she brings with all her pitches.”
Kean, however, bounced back and won the second game, never giving the Lions a chance to hold the lead. Platt surrendered two runs in the first inning. The Lions cut the deficit in half when McGuire hit a sacrifice fly in the top of the fourth. Kean countered with another run in the bottom of the fifth.
After McGuire smacked a home run in the sixth and Conroy ripped an RBI single in the seventh, Kean freshman utility player Katie Debbie hit a walk-off double to send the Lions back home with a 4-3 loss.
“We had a little breakdown defensively in game two with Kean which hasn’t happened since our first set of games,” Miller said. “We need to stay focused and have a consistent pre-pitch approach to whoever is pitching to opposing hitters. We have had the same approach all years in many areas.”
The Lions return to the diamond on Saturday, April 28 for a doubleheader against Montclair State University at Dr. June Walker Field at 1 p.m.
(04/17/18 5:52am)
By Malcolm Luck
Sports Editor
After the rain washed away a doubleheader against William Paterson University, the Lions returned to the diamond in Glassboro, New Jersey against Rowan University on April 10.
Rowan, ranked No. 21 in the nation according to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association head coaches poll, battled the Lions in low-scoring affairs, beginning with a pitcher’s duel in the first game.
Rowan’s sophomore pitcher/outfielder Jesse DeDomenico went up against the College’s ace, freshman pitcher/infielder Alanna Namit. Offensive action didn’t ensue until the third inning when the Lions posted the game’s first run. Following back-to-back singles by junior outfielder Gaby Bennett and sophomore infielder/outfielder Annalise Suitovsky, a sacrifice bunt advanced them to second and third. Senior outfielder Madison Levine got Bennett to home plate with an RBI groundout to take the early 1-0 lead.
Rowan retaliated in the bottom of the third inning with a two-run homerun to take a 2-1 lead. The Lions then countered with RBI singles by sophomore infielder Megan Mayernik and junior catcher Jess McGuire in the fifth and seventh. On the mound, Namit secured her eighth victory with six strikeouts as the Lions won, 3-2.
The second game of the doubleheader proved to be a tougher offensive challenge for the Lions, as they only managed to put up one run. Bennett stroked an RBI single in the fourth to put her team on the scoreboard, but Rowan bounced back in the bottom half of the fourth with an RBI single.
Just one inning later, Rowan tacked on two additional insurance runs to take the 3-1 lead. The Lions couldn’t muster a good scoring opportunity for the remainder of the game as Rowan’s sophomore pitcher Lauren Shannon held on for the complete game win.
On a bright, sunny day at Dr. June Walker Field, the College flashed their offensive ability in the first game of its doubleheader against Ramapo College on Saturday, April 14. In the fourth inning, the Lions put up three runs beginning with McGuire’s RBI double to right, scoring Bennett in the process. Suitovsky knocked in two more with her single to right center to give the team a 3-0 lead.
In the top of the sixth, Ramapo assembled its best scoring opportunity. After senior pitcher Christina Brizek knocked in two runs with a single, Ramapo was poised to add more with runners on the corners and no outs.
In a high-pressure situation, Namit came in for freshman pitcher Eliza Sweet to induce three outs and limit the damage. The College added five runs in the bottom of the sixth to enforce the mercy rule and end the game in six innings.
All seven innings were needed in the second game against Ramapo. Freshman infielder Lauren Conroy knocked in the first run of the game in the first inning, scoring Mayernik. Sophomore outfielder Helena Coppola added one more in the sixth inning with an RBI hit-by-pitch. The Lions didn’t need an extra insurance run, as senior pitcher Sam Platt went the distance, only allowing one hit in a complete game shutout, giving the Lions a 2-0 win to sweep the doubleheader.
With the team only one victory away from reaching the 20-win mark, the Lions head up to Union, New Jersey for a conference doubleheader against Kean University on Saturday, April 21.
(04/17/18 5:39am)
By Malcolm Luck
Sports Editor
The Lions began an action-packed slate of six games in six days by taking on Alvernia University in Reading, Pennsylvania on April 9.
The team’s bats cracked early in the first inning when sophomore outfielder Thomas Persichetti and senior outfielder Zachary Shindler launched a flurry of base hits to put players on first and third base with only one out.
The team then built a 3-0 lead when senior utility player Austin Lindsay smacked an RBI single. Sophomore outfielder Jacob Simon followed up with an RBI double while junior infielder Tommy McCarthy contributed with an RBI groundout.
The Lions maintained a 4-2 lead in the bottom of the fourth when starting pitcher junior Andrew Rowan began to stumble. Rowan allowed the first five batters of the inning to reach base, followed by two RBI groundouts, a double and another groundout to end the inning. He was charged with five earned runs in the inning.
Alvernia’s seven runs proved to be the magic number as the Lions failed to close the deficit, ultimately losing, 7-6. Just one day later in Farmingdale, New York, the Lions were on the opposite end of a momentum-shifting offensive inning.
With the Lions pitted against Farmingdale State University on April 10, freshman pitcher Tim Schumacher started the game for the Lions, but lasted just one-third of an inning, getting shelled for five hits and six unearned runs while allowing three walks. The early 6-2 deficit proved to be no challenge for the Lions.
By the top of the sixth inning, the College was down 6-9 when Lindsay lined an RBI single to right to decrease the deficit. Following Simon walking to first base, McCarthy stepped into a crucial situation.
With the team down by two runs, the bases loaded and no one out, McCarthy ripped a three-run triple to right field to give his team a 10-9 lead.
Despite Farmingdale sending in a new pitcher, McCarthy remained calm and focused on driving critical runs.
“My approach that at-bat was just to try and get something I could drive and get in the air to try and score the runner from third somehow,” McCarthy said. “With a new pitcher coming in for that at-bat, I knew he was going to try and get ahead in the count so I was sitting on a fastball and got the pitch I wanted and went for it.”
The Lions didn’t look back. The team added three more runs in the sixth inning to take a commanding 13-9 lead and carried the lead to victory.
McCarthy highlights the importance of comeback victories like this for the team’s confidence.
“Those comebacks are huge because we know we’re never out of a game no matter what the score is,” McCarthy said. “It shows the team how when one of us doesn’t have our best stuff, somebody will pick us up and come through.”
The win over Farmingdale sparked a winning-streak for the Lions. The team took on New Jersey Athletic Conference opponent Stockton University on Thursday, April 12 and edged out a late 3-2 victory.
In the sixth, Lindsay hit a two-run homer to left field to give the Lions a 2-0 lead. Sophomore pitcher Michael Walley gave up a game-tying double in the top of the seventh inning, but the resilient Lions regained the lead in the bottom of the eighth on the heels of a one-out RBI triple by senior infielder Patrick Anderson.
Senior pitcher Matt Curry secured the win in the ninth with a save. The close call against Stockton proved to be temporary. In Galloway, New Jersey on Friday, April 13, the Lions’ offense unloaded for a dominant 20-2 victory over Stockton, collecting five runs in the first inning and seven runs in the eighth.
In Saturday’s doubleheader against Montclair State University at George Ackerman Park on April 14, the Lions played another tense game. In the bottom of the fourth inning, Lindsay claimed the Lions’ first run off an RBI double. Anderson added one more with a sacrifice fly to left field to extend the lead to 2-0.
In the top of the sixth, Montclair State knotted the game back at 2-2 following a passed ball and an RBI single. The Lions came roaring back in the bottom of the seventh, adding three more runs when Persichetti got an RBI after being hit by a pitch. Shindler then got an RBI single and the Lions secured another run off an error by Montclair’s shortstop.
Despite Montclair State scoring two runs in the top of the ninth, Curry once again held on for his fifth save of the season, giving the Lions a 5-4 victory.
As the field heated up with bright sunshine, the Lions offense torched Montclair at back end of the doubleheader with an assertive 12-2 victory. The Lions scored five runs in the first inning and held a 12-0 lead in the seventh before allowing Montclair State two runs in the top of the eighth. Senior pitcher Brandon Zachary got credit for the win, only allowing two runs on three hits in seven innings.
With the end of the regular season less than two weeks away, the Lions look to transition into playoff form with conference opponent Rowan University on Thursday, April 19 at George Ackerman Park on Thursday, April 19.
The Lions then travel to Glassboro, New Jersey to play Rowan again on Friday, April 20. The team follows up with a doubleheader against New Jersey City University on Saturday, April 21 in Jersey City, New Jersey.
(04/10/18 5:18am)
By Malcolm Luck
Sports Editor
The Lions’ 11-game winning-streak came to a jolting halt when the College suffered back-to-back losses at the hands of Rutgers-University Camden, 1-3 and 0-1 on Thursday, April 5 and Friday, April 6. The team then bounced back to trample Ramapo College in a doubleheader by scores of 11-0 and 11-2 on Sunday, April 8.
The first loss to Rutgers-Camden was the result of a brilliant pitching performance by Rutgers-Camden junior Ian Scheidemann, who earned the win with a complete game and 11 strikeouts. The College’s sophomore starting pitcher Michael Walley threw a complete game himself, but ultimately fell victim to Rutgers-Camden’s sophomore first baseman/outfielder, Matt Yanick.
Yanick, who pinch hit in the second inning, drove in all three runs for his team. He hit a sacrifice fly to center in the second inning, drove in an RBI with a single to left center in the sixth and smacked another RBI single to left in the eighth.
In the top half of the ninth, the Lions loaded the bases with no outs but only scratched away one run on an RBI walk by junior infielder Tommy McCarthy.
Just a day later, the home field advantage at George Ackerman Park yielded the same offensive drought, as the Lions managed to put up zero runs. Rutgers-Camden’s starting pitcher Carter Fichter followed up Scheidemann’s performance with a gem of his own, hurling a complete game shutout.
The Lions’ best scoring chance came in the first inning with the bases loaded, but McCarthy struck out swinging to end the threat. Rutgers-Camden took advantage in the top of the fourth, scoring on a single which ultimately ended up being the lone run of the day for both sides.
Despite the loss, junior starting pitcher Michael Fischer went the distance, striking out eight batters in nine innings.
After scoring a combined one run in two games, the Lions unloaded on conference opponent Ramapo College in their doubleheader on Sunday, April 8.
The College made its statement early, starting with a single and a stolen base by junior infielder Danny Borup. Shindler brought him home with an RBI single, and the Lions never looked back.
The College put the game out of reach in the bottom of the fifth, when it tacked on five runs before the first out of the inning was recorded. Simon, McCarthy and junior infielder Ryan Fischer all collected RBIs. When the dust settled, the Lions put up six total runs in the inning to take a commanding 9-0 lead. For the first time in a week, the starting pitcher was rewarded for an awe-inspiring performance as senior Joe Cirillo went eight innings for the win.
An early offensive statement was the theme for the second game of the doubleheader as well, displayed by RBI singles by Shindler and Lindsay to take a 2-0 lead in the bottom half of the first.
Senior pitcher Brandon Zachary responded with a shutdown inning, striking out three despite giving up a pair of walks. However, Zachary was pulled after five innings in large part due to his lack of command. He tallied six walks and one hit-by-pitch, despite only allowing one hit. Junior pitchers Dylan Crowley and senior Matt Curry combined for two earned runs over four innings of work to complete the game.
After the game, Crowley and Curry expressed the importance of mental fortitude and accountability as members of the bullpen.
“Being a relief pitcher is all about mindset and execution,” Crowley said. “We can’t go out there thinking that we’re going to mess up and we can’t dwell on previous outings. The starter may not go that deep into the game but we still have to be able to go out there when called on, execute our pitches and finish the job.”
Curry explained how the additional pressure in the late innings amplified the importance of the team maintaining its composure.
“A big part of being a relief pitcher is keeping your cool, especially coming in with guys on base or in a close game,” Curry said. “You have a whole team counting on you to do your job, which, as a reliever, is to come in and get guys out, so anything less than that is perceived as a failure.”
The Lions found themselves as the beneficiaries of another five-run inning in the eighth to thwart any comeback attempts — all of the runs were unearned.
The team is scheduled to have another busy week, as the Lions take on Stockton University at George Ackerman Park on Thursday, April 12 at 3:30 p.m. The team then travels to Galloway, New Jersey for another game against Stockton on Friday, April 13.
The Lions then conclude the week with a doubleheader against Montclair State University at George Ackerman Park on Saturday, April 14 at 11:30 a.m.
(04/03/18 7:16am)
By Malcolm Luck
Sports Editor
After six games were postponed due to inclement weather, the softball team was back at Dr. June Walker Field on March 27 against Cabrini University.
The Lions split the doubleheader, losing 1-2 and winning 8-0 against Cabrini. They then took both games against Rutgers University-Newark on Saturday, March 31, winning 6-4 in extra innings, followed by a 5-2 victory.
The loss against Cabrini was closely contested as a result of the stellar performances put forth by both starting pitchers. Senior pitcher Sam Platt and Cabrini’s senior pitcher Jess Giordano both hurled complete games for their respective teams, but Platt was the first to crack, allowing a walk and a home run in the top of the sixth inning.
The Lions strung together a series of singles in the bottom of the seventh, but Giordano managed to secure the win despite giving up an RBI single off the bat of sophomore infielder/outfielder Annalise Suitovsky. Head coach Sally Miller attributed the poor offensive performance to the lack of adjustments.
"The first game versus Cabrini, we weren't really ready to play,” Miller said. “We didn't make any adjustments offensively to their pitcher like we have done in all games up until that point."
The Lions’ bats couldn’t be contained much longer, as they blasted eight runs in the second game of the doubleheader.
The College set the tone early, stinging freshman Cabrini pitcher Casey Schueren for three runs in the first inning. Suitovsky kicked things off, smacking a single down the right field line and coming around to score two batters later after senior outfielder Madison Levine sent a double into the center field gap. Junior catcher Jess McGuire capped the inning off with a home run over the center field wall.
Following two additional runs in the bottom of the third, freshman infielder Lauren Conroy spoiled any chances of a comeback, putting the game out of reach by blasting a three-run home run to center field and giving the Lions an 8-0 lead. Freshman pitcher/infielder Alanna Namit went the distance, tossing five scoreless innings for the complete game shutout due to the mercy rule.
Levine’s first inning double marked the 100th hit of her collegiate career. Miller attests to Levine’s distinct ability to focus and adapt.
"She is very focused right now balancing academics with practice and has had really good practices mentally and physically all preseason,” Miller said. “She has focused in on her offense this winter and holds herself accountable for adjustments she also needs to make in practice such as what she feels good with versus what she is struggling with."
The Lions rode their winning momentum to Newark, New Jersey to take on Rutgers-Newark. In the first game, Platt found herself with a 0-2 deficit after giving up an RBI double and allowing an unearned run in the bottom of the first inning.
The College’s offense took advantage of Rutgers-Newark’s faulty defense in the bottom of the second, as junior outfielder Gaby Bennett sent a double down the left field line and scored on a fielding error just one batter later.
Bennett momentarily played hero in the top of the sixth, whacking a two-out RBI double in the center gap, stealing third and scoring on a throwing error to give her team a late 4-3 lead. However, Rutgers-Newark knotted the game back at 4-4 following a one-out sacrifice fly. Freshman pitcher Eliza Sweet induced an inning-ending double play to escape further damage.
In extra innings, the Lions struck early. Sophomore outfielder Helena Coppola sent an RBI single through the right side to score Conroy from third and freshman outfielder Kaitlin Kocinski followed up with an RBI double to right for an insurance run. Sweet finished the deal at the bottom of the eighth to leave the diamond as the winning pitcher.
Another early pitcher’s duel silenced the Lions’ bats in the second game of the doubleheader until the top of the fifth inning.
Bennett hit a sacrifice fly to center, sending home junior infielder Francesca Pugliese for the first run of the game. The Lions added two more runs in the next inning following back-to-back RBI doubles to left by McGuire and Kocinski.
The team then dropped two additional unearned runs in the top of the seventh to stretch the lead to 5-0. Despite giving up two runs in the bottom of the seventh, Namit held on for the win with the help of Sweet, who pitched for the final two outs of the game.
The Lions will return to Dr. June Walker field to face William Paterson University on Saturday, April 7 at 1 p.m., beginning an extensive stretch of conference games.
"It's a tough conference and we will battle every inning of every game,” Miller said. “We need to stay focused on what we have done in past games that produces success individually and as a team. Every game will be a battle and we just need to not only understand it but be prepared for the intensity and importance of every inning."
(04/03/18 7:04am)
By Malcolm Luck
Sports Editor
After a subpar season opener at the Ross and Sharon Irwin Invite in San Diego, California on March 17, the Lions returned to the track for redemption.
At the Stockton Invitational on Saturday, March 31, both the men’s and women’s teams excelled, resulting in a second place finish for the women’s team and a fifth place finish from the men’s out of 15 competing schools.
Sophomore Kaila Carter led all Lions at the invitational with her first place finish in the 100-meter hurdle event with a time of 15.55, earning the women’s team 10 points toward its 124-point total. Junior Abigail Rizzo followed in sixth place, completing the race in 16.60.
Carter was not done contributing for her team, however, as she also tied for fifth place in the 100-meter dash with a time of 12.93. Earning second, third and fourth place in the same event were freshman Jada Grisson, senior Danielle Celestin and sophomore Samantha Gorman, respectively finishing in 12.58, 12.60 and 12.76.
The same trio dominated in the 200-meter event. The extra length proved to be no match for Gorman, Grisson and Celestin as they respectively took over second, third and fourth places once again with times of 25.62, 26.24 and 26.39.
In the 400-meter dash, the Lions continued their domination at the podium as sophomore Katie LaCapria and freshman Dana DeLuca dazzled for respective second and third place finishes, clocking in at 58.97 and 59.41.
Gorman, Grisson, Celestin and DeLuca left their opponents in the dust as the Lions’ 4x100 relay team. The squad crossed the finish line in 48.70, good for first place and another 10 points toward the team’s total.
Senior Jenna Ellenbacher contributed to the bundle of second place finishes with one of her own in the 400-meter hurdles, gliding in with a time of 1:05.49. Sophomore teammate Christine Woods followed up in fifth place in 1:09.15. In the field, freshman Tamika Voltaire sprung to second place with a mark of 1.58 meters in the high jump.
For the men, freshman Tana Gawe set the bar high for his teammates, coming in second place in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 16.10. In a slate of 30 competitors in the 100-meter dash, senior Nicholas Genoese sprinted to fourth place in 11.19, contributing five points to the team’s total in the process. In the 200-meter dash, he upped his results and captured a second place finish, completing the race in 22.47. In the 400-meter dash, junior Noah Osterhus clocked in at 49.60, good for fourth out of 23 competitors.
Freshman Alex Carideo led the charge for the College in the long distance events. In the 5000-meter run, he placed third of 30 competitors, completing the event in 15:47.70. Freshman teammate Noah Preihs finished closely behind in sixth place, finishing in 16:03.29.
Noah Osterhus, junior Nathan Osterhus, sophomore Tyler Andriopoulos and senior Daniel Lynch competed in the 4x400 meter relay, where they finished in fourth place out of 10 teams with a time of 3:34.26.
The Lions look to carry their momentum into this weekend when both squads will participate in the Colonial Relays at William & Mary College in Williamsburg, Virginia and on home turf in the TCNJ Invitational at the TCNJ Track & Field Complex. Both events will be held from Friday, April 6 to Saturday, April 7.
(03/20/18 9:30am)
By Malcolm Luck and Alexander Reich
Sports Editor and Sports Writer
Following back-to-back losses against Aurora University and Concordia University Chicago on March 10 and 11, the Lions bounced back with seven consecutive wins in Winter Haven, Florida.
The first win came on March 12 against the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Following seven innings of shutout pitching from senior pitcher Brandon Zachary, junior pitcher Zac deRocco coughed up the lead. He gave up two earned runs as the opponents tied the game, 2-2. However, in the bottom of the eighth inning, the Lions regained the lead after senior utility player Austin Lindsay smacked a go-ahead RBI single to center field to pull ahead 3-2. Senior pitcher Matt Curry came back to the mound in the ninth to secure the win.
Fueled by a clutch late inning performance, the Lions followed up with back-to-back 15-1 and 16-2 blowout wins at the expense of Utica College in their March 13 doubleheader.
In the first of the two games, junior infielder Danny Borup brought energy to the top of the lineup, starting off the game by lacing a double to left field. He came in to score following senior infielder Zachary Shindler's RBI groundout. The double was the first of his four hits in the afternoon along with his three runs scored. Altogether, the Lions stung Utica junior pitcher Noah Martin for 10 hits and 10 runs over his four inning performance.
Junior pitcher Andrew Rowan closed the window on Utica’s offensive optimism, holding them to four hits and one unearned run over seven innings.
The second game of the doubleheader was more of the same with a majority of the offensive production coming from the second, third and fourth spots of the College’s lineup. Sophomore outfielder Thomas Persichetti, Shindler and Lindsay combined for 10 hits, 13 RBIs and eight runs scored to bury Utica. Freshman pitcher Tim Schumacher received the win.
The blowout wins were contrasted by a trio of closely contested games, yielding 2-0, 4-1 and 4-0 victories.
The first win came against the University of Southern Maine on Thursday, March 15. Junior infielder Tommy McCarthy put the Lions on the board in the first inning with an RBI single to left field. Borup added another RBI single to left field in the eighth to add an insurance run, which was ultimately a moot point on the heels of senior pitcher Joe Cirillo’s eight shutout innings. Curry came on in the ninth for a 1-2-3 inning to secure the save.
The back-to-back victories against Suffolk University on Friday, March 16 were once again attributed to tremendous pitching. In the first game, junior pitcher Michael Fischer pitched for six strong innings, allowing one earned run while tallying nine strikeouts. In the second game, sophomore pitcher Michael Walley threw six innings of his own, allowing no runs. Curry closed out the final two outs of the game, adding his second save of the week.
Following the close games, the Lions’ bats came to life to close out the spring trip on Saturday, March 17 against Knox College.
The Lions took advantage of early mistakes by Knox to get on the scoreboard. Following a single by Borup, he came around to score following an error by Knox’s second baseman. Knox tied the game in the bottom half of the inning, courtesy of a wild pitch from Zachary.
The offense made up for it in the top half of the second inning, tacking on two additional runs off the bat of Borup’s two-run double to left field. In the top of the third, the Lions added four more following McCarthy’s RBI groundout, senior outfielder Mike Follet’s RBI single, a wild pitch and a passed ball.
Zachary showed his appreciation for his offense by clamping down on Knox, tossing eight innings while only allowing two runs and collecting 13 strikeouts.
The Lions look to continue the team’s momentum in a game against Alvernia University in Reading, Pennsylvania on Wednesday, March 21.
(03/20/18 7:00am)
By Malcolm Luck
Sports Editor
Following an indoor season full of dazzling performances, four Lions clawed their way to the NCAA Division III Indoor Championships in Birmingham, Alabama.
On March 9 and 10, sophomores Katie LaCapria, Samantha Gorman and Kaila Carter and junior Kathleen Jaeger represented the College in the team’s final indoor meet. Jaeger was the only Lion to qualify in the preliminaries, earning a time of 2:14.48. In the final heat, she placed seventh out of eight competitors, finishing in 2:13.53, almost a second faster than her preliminary mark.
Jaeger concluded her season earning her second first team All-American honors in the 800-meter event to go along with the New Jersey Athletic Conference indoor track and field Larry G. Athlete accolade.
Meanwhile, LaCapria ran in the 800-meter event as well, missing the qualifying mark with her time of 2:17.73. Carter, representing the College in the 60-meter hurdles, clocked in at 9.01. Gorman completed the 400-meter event in 58.66.
With the indoor season behind them, the men’s and women’s track and field teams sought a fresh start for the outdoor season. On Saturday, March 18, the College traveled to San Diego to compete in the Ross and Sharon Irwin Invite at Point Loma Nazarene University.
The sunny weather ultimately proved to be the brightest part of the trip, as both teams were buried by their opponents. The men finished the afternoon in 11th place out of 12, while the women placed 10th.
For the men’s team, junior Noah Osterhus highlighted all performances with his fifth place finish at the 400-meter dash. His recorded time of 49.45 contributed five points to the team’s 12-point total. Freshman Tana Gawe achieved 11th place and two points for the Lions in the 400-meter hurdles, finishing in 56.45. The quad of sophomores Daniel Pflueger and Tyler Andriopoulos, junior Nathan Osterhus and senior Nicholas Genoese earned the team its remaining five points in the 4x100 relay, achieving an eighth place finish in 43.84.
The women’s team fared slightly better with a 30-point finish, but was ultimately overshadowed by a first place 262-point performance put forth by the U.S. Naval Academy.
Coming off of an amazing indoor season, LaCapria and Carter maintained their top-tier forms. LaCapria earned eight points for the College with her third place finish in the 800-meter run, crossing the finish line at 2:16.72. In the 100-meter hurdle, Carter obtained sixth place with her time of 15.13.
In the 100-meter dash, freshman Jada Grisson led all Lions, placing 13th in a slate of 38 competitors and clocked in at a blazing 12.53. In the 200-meter event, senior Danielle Celestin earned 15th place out of 60 and finished in 25.92. Following close behind in 17th and 18th places were teammates Gorman and Grisson with their times of 26.10 and 26.14, respectively.
In the field, freshman Jane Beiermeister earned eighth place out of 22 in the javelin event at 30.15 meters. Sophomore Christine Woods leapt to 10th place out of 21 with her mark of 1.50 meters in the high jump.
After a disappointing outdoor opener, the Lions will look to bounce back at the Danny Curran Invitational at Widener University on March 30.
(03/06/18 8:26am)
By Malcolm Luck
Sports Editor
Despite the College’s loss to Montclair State University on Feb. 23, the team punched its ticket to the NCAA Division III women’s basketball tournament. The Lions defeated Hilbert College 61-42 on Friday, March 2, but ultimately fell to Rochester Institute of Technology just a day later by a score of 79-76, ending the team’s spectacular season.
Coming into the tournament, head coach Chessie Jackson knew that the team felt further motivation to win.
“I think whenever we’re talking about an NCAA tournament game, there is extra motivation,” Jackson said. “We weren’t ready to be finished with our season, and falling short in the NJAC championship lit a fire in our squad for sure. It was also refreshing to have a full week between games and to play a non-conference opponent for the first time in a while. And hosting made the entire experience that much more special.”
The College’s first round matchup in Packer Hall against Hilbert was striking. Junior guard Kate O’Leary scored first on an assist from sophomore forward Jen Byrne. By the end of the first quarter, the Lions acquired a 15-9 lead.
Both teams fought more fiercely in the second quarter. Despite two early three-pointers from Hilbert, the resilient Lions refused to trail off a strong effort from freshman forward Shannon Devitt. With dominant play inside the paint, she was responsible for all of the team’s final eight points of the quarter and gave the College a commanding 34-21 lead at the half.
Despite Hilbert’s six unanswered points in the middle of the third quarter, the Lions’ lead could not be surpassed, as the team was up by 18 by the quarter’s end. They eventually won by 19 with a final score of 61-42.
Less than 24 hours later, the College returned to Packer Hall to take on RIT in the second round of the tournament. RIT, who defeated the University of New England in the first round, proved to be a tougher match for the Lions from the start.
The Lions benefitted from three-point shots early on, starting with a pair from junior forward Samantha Famulare to cut the College’s early deficit to 7-6. O’Leary followed up with two three-pointers of her own, giving the team a 12-9 lead. RIT then countered with a fastbreak layup from senior forward Amanda Olsen. O’Leary’s hot hand found the bottom of the net on another three to end the quarter with the Lions up, 19-15.
In the second quarter, Byrne contributed to the team’s flurry of three-pointers, adding two more on back-to-back possessions off assists from senior guard Charlotte Schum and Devitt. By then, the Lions led 34-26.
RIT eventually cut the Lions’ lead by four, but couldn’t contain O’Leary long enough to surpass the Lions, as she drained her fourth three-pointer of the game to put the Lions up 39-32. Following a layup from Schum, O’Leary scored a basket off a layup in the paint, drawing a foul in the process with just one second left on the clock. Her free throw sent RIT to the locker room with a 44-32 deficit.
RIT returned in the second half, hungry for a Sweet Sixteen appearance.
Eight points proved to be an unsustainable lead as RIT clamped down on the defensive end of the floor in the fourth quarter. Following two free throws by RIT, Schum drained a three-pointer off an assist from senior forward Nikki Schott, but was quickly countered by back-to-back three-pointers from RIT senior guard Jessica Glaz.
RIT then followed up when junior guard Cori Okada made a layup to cut the Lions’ lead down to 66-65. Okada later tied the game with another three-pointer following a layup by Byrne.
With 1:32 minutes remaining, Schum drained a three-pointer to give the College a 74-72 lead. The home crowd’s roaring enthusiasm at Packer Hall was not enough to lead the Lions to victory in an elimination game.
RIT launched a comeback when freshman guard Sabrina Wolfe scored the game-tying layup. Okada then helped RIT reclaim the lead off a clutch three-pointer. Following layups from Devitt and RIT junior forward Tara Lynch, Byrne tried to save the Lions’ season with a game-tying three-point attempt.
The hovering basketball did not find the the basket, as the women’s basketball team’s season concluded with a 79-76 loss.
After a strong first half to take a commanding lead, the Lions were outscored 47-32 in the second half to cough up the lead. Jackson partially attributes the second half struggle to fatigue.
“I think our second half vs. RIT was due to a combination of factors. We haven’t played back-to-back games since November, and so fatigue was a clear factor.”
She also credits RIT’s clutch offensive play down the stretch.
“RIT’s guard play was fantastic, and they hit some pretty remarkable shots late in the game to go on a few runs that we struggled to counter,” Jackson said. “I think that our offense is really dictated by our defense, and so when we weren’t getting stops, it was increasingly difficult to score against them.”
Despite the tournament loss, Jackson was not ready to think about next season just yet. Instead, she continued to focus on the accomplishments her team achieved this season.
“I am hopeful that our returners can become more consistent moving into next season, but our roster will look very different next year, so I don’t want to get ahead of myself thinking too much about an NCAA tournament run quite yet,” Jackson said. “We really focused on one day at a time this year, and I want to continue doing that moving forward. I am incredibly proud of our team for everything we were able to achieve this season. Our seniors were tremendous leaders, and the entire group brought a renewed focus and energy into every new challenge. I am looking forward to seeing what we can accomplish in the future.”
(03/06/18 5:00am)
By Malcolm Luck
Sports Editor
The Lions traveled north to run in the NCAA Atlantic Region Championships from Friday, March 2 to Saturday, March 3 at Ithaca College. Competing with a total of 22 teams, the women’s team took sixth place while the men fell to 15th.
Junior Natalie Cooper led the Lions in top finishes, as she placed second in the 5000-meter event with a time of 17:56.63. Her performance marks the fastest New Jersey Athletic Conference 5000-meter time for the season by well over 20 seconds.
The next three competitors for the top 5000-meter indoor seasonal NJAC marks were all Lions as well, as second, third and fourth places are occupied by junior Madeleine Tattory, sophomore Gabby DeVito and junior Emma Bean, respectively.
Sophomore Kaila Carter contributed four points to the team’s total tally in the 60-meter hurdle event, where she placed fifth with her time of 9.12 seconds.
In the 200-meter dash, senior Danielle Celestin and freshman Shannon Lambert collectively earned the College five points as they placed sixth and seventh with times of 26.40 and 26.49 seconds respectively.
In the 4x400 relay event, the squad of Lambert, freshman Dana DeLuca and seniors Jenna Ellenbacher and Meagan McGourty completed the race in 4:02.00 to earn second place out of eight teams. McGourty also displayed her versatility in the field, where she earned fourth place in the high jump with a mark of 1.59 meters. Sophomore Allison Zelinski also dazzled in the field with her long jump mark of 5.47 meters, earning her fifth place and four points for the College.
For the men, a few performances overshadowed an overall disappointing finish.
In the 800-meter run, junior John Wood placed third with a time of 1:56.95, earning the team six points. Junior Noah Osterhus kept pace, finishing the same event in 1:58.60 and contributing four points to the Lions’ tally.
Senior Dale Johnson also placed third in the mile event. Johnson completed the event in 4:16.43, earning six points.
With his time, Johnson also achieved the third fastest NJAC mark for the mile event this season.
In the 4x200 relay, junior Nathan Osterhus, sophomore Tyler Andriopoulos and freshmen Daulton Hopkins and Tana Gawe earned eighth place and one point for the College with their time of 1:33.60. A team of Gawe, sophomore Mike Zurzolo and freshmen Robert Abrams and Joey Erskine competed in the distance medley relay.
The squad earned ninth place, narrowly missing a point-earning finish by .17 seconds.
Next up are the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships from Friday, March 9 to Saturday, March 10 in Birmingham, Alabama.
(02/27/18 5:51am)
By Malcolm Luck
Sports Editor
In a season full of dominating performances, the women’s track and field team left Staten Island, New York on Feb. 19 as New Jersey Athletic Conference indoor champions. This marks the women’s first indoor title since the 2011 season.
Competing against eight other conference opponents, the Lions came out on top, earning 225 points.
The College dominated many events, beginning with a pair of impressive 400-meter performances. Sophomore Samantha Gorman and senior Jenna Ellenbacher claimed first and second place respectively, finishing with times of 58.01 and 58.40.
Women’s track and field saw similar finishes in the 800-meter event. Junior Kathleen Jaeger, sophomore Katie LaCapria and freshman Emily Hirsch respectively earned first, second and fourth places, clocking in at 2:14.10, 2:15.38 and 2:19.61. The trio also set the first, second and fourth fastest marks in the NJAC this season.
The Lions were also competitive in the distance events. In the 3000-meter marathon, junior duo Erin Holzbaur and Madeleine Tattory and sophomore Gabby Devito claimed the top three marks with their times of 10.29.19, 10:29.46 and 10:35.10.
The Lions claimed another top three sweep in the 5000-meter event as well. The event was dominated by first, second and third place finishes by Tattory, along with junior teammates Natalie Cooper and Emma Bean. Cooper, Tattory and Bean respectively took the top three times, completing the race in 18:05.82, 18:09.69 and 18:18.21.
Collectively, the Lions were nothing short of unstoppable in the relay events.
In the 4x400 relay, the team of Gorman, Ellenbacher, Jaeger and freshman Shannon Lambert took first place in 3:55.15. In the 4x800 relay, Hirsch, LaCapria, freshman Hannah Fay and junior Abigail Faith claimed first place, beating second place Rowan University by almost 15 seconds.
Seniors Cassidy Cardone and Allison Fournier, along with freshmen Kristin Lange and Emily Forester captured first place in the distance medley relay, earning a time of 13:11.86. In the field, senior Meagan McGourty and freshmen Jada Covington and Tamika Voltaire also contributed to the Lions’ point total with respective first, second and third place finishes in the high jump.
On the men’s side, a strong team effort resulted in a third place conference finish.
The men’s team began with formidable finishes at the 800-meter event, where juniors Noah Osterhus and Jack Wood respectively earned third and fourth places with times of 1:53.84 and 1:54.60. The College was also well represented in the mile event, where senior Dale Johnson and junior Luke Prothero finished in third and fifth places respectively, clocking in at 4:16.19 and 4:19.45.
Sophomores Mike Zurzolo and Andrew Dyer contributed to the Lions’ total in the 3000-meter event as well with their respective second and fourth place finishes, clocking in at 8:56.61 and 9:04.54.
Perhaps the Lions’ most notable performances came from the relay teams. In the 4x200 race, the team of Osterhus, sophomores Tyler Andriopoulos and Daniel Pflueger and freshman Daulton Hopkins secured third place, finishing in 1:32.94. The team of Johnson, Prothero and freshmen Joey Erskine and Robert Abrams also claimed second place in the 4x800 relay with a time of 7:56.46.
After memorable NJAC championship performances, both teams had trouble keeping their momentum at the Fastrack Last Chance Invitational on Saturday, Feb. 24 in Staten Island.
Notable efforts on the women’s side came from senior Danielle Celestin and freshman Jada Grisson as they finished the 60-meter dash in fifth and sixth place while sophomore Kaila Carter contributed with a fifth place finish in the 60-meter hurdle event. McGourty earned third place in the high jump as well.
For the men, the team of Osterhus, Abrams, Erskine and Prothero earned a third-place finish in the distance medley relay.
Both teams will hit the track in Boston University’s Last Chance Meet in Boston on Sunday, Feb. 25.
(02/26/18 8:27pm)
By Malcolm Luck
Sports Editor
The increasing prevalence of social media platforms provides us with a one-of-a-kind opportunity.
I’m not talking about the opportunity to “slide into the DMs” for a virtual conversation with that girl you are too afraid to approach in person, although that may be helpful. I’m referring to the access of the thoughts and mental construction of the individuals that we follow, available at our fingertips.
While it’s easy to scroll through Facebook or Twitter without consciously comprehending every tweet, post or GIF engulfing our timelines, these platforms are designed to be a simulated soapbox for their users.
On Twitter, “What’s happening?” is the default message before the composition of a tweet. On Facebook, “What’s on your mind?” greets its users in a box, encouraging a post that dives into each user’s consciousness.
Whether you like it or not, you will inevitably encounter a tweet or a post that is a muffled cry for help.
As a college student, sometimes it’s difficult to have a complete understanding of our own lives, let alone the lives of those around us. Weeks fly by and through the accumulation of exams, assignments and social obligations, entire weeks can start to feel like mere days.
Constantly looking out for each other’s mental well-being is a lot to ask for, but it is imperative that we do so.
We aren’t trained psychologists. Most of us don’t possess the ability to reach out to someone we barely know and probe for a deeper issue that might be on their minds, but that is not the point.
The objective of reaching out is not necessarily to resolve an internal problem someone may be having, but instead it is to project empathy and relatability while being a set of open ears and open arms for someone to confide in.
Unfortunately since I’ve graduated high school almost three years ago, a handful of my peers have taken their own lives. In a time where a vast amount of our communication occurs online, there were signs. This is not to say that all of these instances are detectable through social media, or that all signs of dissatisfaction should be assumed to end in the worst possible way. It is strictly a matter of awareness and offering a helping hand to those who may need it.
It’s not always easy to decipher the intentions of a post. It’s almost natural to get caught up in the virtual nature of social media, where you neglect to recognize the number of eyes reading your Facebook posts or the infinite lifespan of a tweet. We are becoming progressively desensitized to the personal information we consume on social media every day due to the alarmingly high volume of it. However, there are solutions.
Once in a while, take a step back and scroll through Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or Snapchat and examine the thoughts, habits and lifestyle of your peers with a more conscientious mindset.
Rather than looking at your timelines as a method of entertainment or an attempt to speed up those last 15 minutes of your Tuesday night three-hour class, I challenge you to look at them from a different perspective, one in which those photos or public posts might have an underlying meaning. An ounce of empathy may be exactly what someone needs.
A helping hand, either virtual or in real life, can go a long way.